Society members to be offered branded insurance services

3rd February 2011

Swansea Building Society has entered into partnership with Thomas, Carroll, Wales' largest independent insurance brokers, to provide insurance services and products for its members.

The Building Society has introduced its own range of buildings, home contents and related insurance products having joined forces with Thomas, Carroll Private Clients Limited, part of Thomas, Carroll Group plc, the Welsh insurance, health & safety and financial services group.

According to Alun Williams, Chief Executive of Swansea Building Society, as well as providing their own insurance facility for members, the development will also help streamline the mortgage application process.

Mr Williams said: "In these difficult economic times for people, we want to make the mortgage process as convenient as possible. In what we believe is a highly innovative move, we will have insurance broking specialists on hand, in-branch to advise our new and current customers and provide instant insurance quotations. This ability to arrange insurance cover so speedily on properties enables us to speed up mortgage approval significantly and also potentially provide premium savings to existing members."

Mr Williams added: "It is important for us to partner with a local and independent Welsh company and in Thomas, Carroll which has been established for forty years, and were named UK Insurance Broker of the Year in 2010, we have an ideal partner which shares in our community-based business ethics."

Alison Davies, Managing Director of Thomas, Carroll Private Clients said: "We are extremely excited to be involved with such a well respected name as Swansea Building Society and to be working so closely with them, literally in-branch.

Rob Jones MBE, Development Director at our Swansea Office is playing a lead role in this partnership and our colleague Alison Watts will be based between the Society's Swansea and Mumbles offices to advise and support customers and Members. We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership with Swansea Building Society."

Under the partnership, as well as home insurance, Swansea Building Society will also provide additional covers including motor, travel and commercial insurance. All claims handling will be conducted by Thomas, Carroll's own specialist in-house team.

The picture shows (left to right) Robert Jones, Regional Director (Swansea) of Thomas, Carroll, Alun Williams, Chief Executive of Swansea Building Society, Alison Davies, Managing Director of Thomas, Carroll Private Clients and Alison Watts, Account Manager at Thomas, Carroll.